Report: Next Jets GM must keep Rex

Just think of it like marrying into a family — except, instead of getting drunk uncle and that sassy sister-in-law, you get Rex Ryan.

That’s apparently what the Jets are telling the candidates angling to replace recently fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Owner Woody Johnson said Monday after he fired Tannenbaum that Ryan’s job was safe. And Rich Cimini of ESPN now reports that the head coach is assured at least one more year. Any new GM is just going to have to find a way to work around that.

“The word on the street is that the Jets are telling potential candidates they won’t be considered unless they agree to keep Rex Ryan for a year,” Cimini reported.

While Ryan initially seemed to be sure to keep his job, speculation to the contrary arose Wednesday when Ryan suddenly skipped town. Some people wondered whether Ryan was in limbo until the arrival of a new GM, who would then have final say on Ryan’s status. All of that, however, went up in a cloud of tattoo dust, and Ryan now appears to have his employment intact.

One interesting wrinkle in the story, though, is the fate of candidate Tom Heckert. The former Browns general manager (also fired last Monday) has reportedly pulled out of his interview with the Jets, which was scheduled for this coming Monday.

Heckert reportedly said Ryan staying as coach was not part of his decision, but the amount of distractions already plaguing the Jets organization — without them even playing games right now — is likely enough to make plenty of general managers shy.